In-shelter remote camera?

kittychick

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As we're trying to find an outdoor shelter to order (as I posted last night - still looking!) - - - think we want to try to put a remote camera inside to monitor since we're having trouble finding a shelter - but ESPECIALLY one w/a window so a door/roof don't need to be open. We'd prefer a non-corded one - - as since whatever we do order shelter-wise, we'll need to be able to plug in a hound heater and heated floor pad and that'll max our outdoor outlet. Obviously one that'll do extremely low-light - being able to monitor with our phones would be great.

Thanks all - - Aspen is our last TNR boy out of a colony - - and we want to do all we can to watch and keep him safe as possible. (If only - after 13 years - we could've taught him to understand that inside our home is best!!!) We want to be able to see when this gorgeous boy is and isn't there.

Aspen on the fence 6_2017.jpg
 

Mamanyt1953

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Check for trail cams. They are ALL battery-operated, and depending on your budget, many can be remotely viewed via computer or phone.
 
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kittychick

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Check for trail cams. They are ALL battery-operated, and depending on your budget, many can be remotely viewed via computer or phone.
Thanks for responding! We’ve never had to use a trail cam — any particular one you like or know someone else has liked? I’m going crazy trying to narrow things down!
 

Mamanyt1953

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It's been a long time since I had one, and don't even remember what brand it was. It was tough, but it was primitive by today's standards. I wish I knew what to tell you, other than take a look online. God knows, EVERYTHING is there. I'd search "trail cam with remote viewing." That might give you a good start.
 
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kittychick

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This world of remote cams/trail cams is INSANE! I feel like it's a full-time job just to dig through the info - and every time I think I've found one I hit something that makes me think it's not a good fit (too expensive, no night vision - esp important since we want to put one in a new shelter, need battery bc can't use solar or wired, bad reviews, etc). Doesn't help that we think we need 2 and would love 3, but the costs I'm seeing now vs when I originally looked into them years ago when we were caring for far more feral kitties we'd TNR'd is SOOOO much higher! And then throw in that looks like now lots need subscriptions - ARGH!

If on the off chance you happen to see anyone mention one - if you could let me know that'd be great. Never thought finding a cam like we need would be almost as hard as trapping! (well, when we first started trapping at least) :frustrated:
 

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He is gorgeous 😻 you are right finding any type of camera for this purpose is practically a full-time job. I was looking at some of them the other night to try to help you and it was very confusing and there were so many of them.

As I mentioned, I use blink cameras they run on lithium batteries, and they connect to your Wi-Fi. The only problem is if it’s too far away from your router, it might not connect. And they’re not always that reliable because of the connection to our Wi-Fi probably even though we got a booster.

If I see another one I’ll let you know… there was one that I was thinking of for my larger shelter, which is farther away from the house. But I don’t remember which one it was and that was a few years ago. Plus, I don’t think it had Wi-Fi connectivity .
 
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kittychick

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J Jmgbethel Us too! He was originally - 12 years ago - the most skittish by far, but he's gotten alot sweeter and more openly loving as the number of his colony dwindled and so we didn't have to "spread the love around" as much. I do think I got cocky with this group - - - we've socialized SOOOO many and had basically zero "failures" - - but Aspen's defintitely his own dog! :flail:We've been keeping him in longer and longer when he does come in to eat (he really disappeared after losing the rest of his "crew" - altho two are inside 24/7 now). We laugh bc he was totally silent (typical feral) for 13 years - - - then when his uncle died (Crosby) it's like Crosby's voice (which was like a cross between a very vocal Siamese and a fog horn) entered Aspen! We've gotten him to stay in more and more - -so even after all this time, and at his age, we feel we're closer to getting him to stay in permanently. .But as I think I mentioned - - he's definitely our "wild child." But we're not giving up! We just feel we have to have at least one option besides inside or the heated garage shelter. Hopefully he'll take to the new shelter (it's in our living room right now as we're training him to go in with chicken and Churus) - altho right now it's his aunt Flick (the one who's been inside for 12 years now) who's decided it's the best thing since sliced bread. Of course the one who doesn't need to use it is the one who loves it. Go figure!
 
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kittychick

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He is gorgeous 😻 you are right finding any type of camera for this purpose is practically a full-time job. I was looking at some of them the other night to try to help you and it was very confusing and there were so many of them.

As I mentioned, I use blink cameras they run on lithium batteries, and they connect to your Wi-Fi. The only problem is if it’s too far away from your router, it might not connect. And they’re not always that reliable because of the connection to our Wi-Fi probably even though we got a booster.

If I see another one I’ll let you know… there was one that I was thinking of for my larger shelter, which is farther away from the house. But I don’t remember which one it was and that was a few years ago. Plus, I don’t think it had Wi-Fi connectivity .
I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds looking for a camera or 2 is maddening! Connecting to the Wi-Fi would be great so that we can see if he's inside this new shelter (we want to put one in the garage too just in case he actually does go in there again - got him to walk in there to eat chicken again last night - tho we still can't get him to go in the garage by the partially open side door the group used for 12 years - just if the full garage door's open - but we're going to keep working at it). But I do keep reading that people get frustrated with alot of the cameras if they're more than 6 feet from the bluetooth source. Which as my husband said "so do they think everyone using an outdoor camera uses it INSIDE?" :flail:Made us laugh - - while crying in frustration!

So if you see any - let me know! I'm going bonkers on what I thought would be the easy part! Thanks a ton!
 
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kittychick

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To those who are helping me out with Aspen - here's a pic of our sweet boy - outside wanting in (but once inside he'll want right back out - ya gotta love 'em!). He's so adorable! (ignore the screen door pattern). He sats thanks for all the help! Aspen on the deck w flowers.jpg
 

Jmgbethel

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J Jmgbethel Us too! He was originally - 12 years ago - the most skittish by far, but he's gotten alot sweeter and more openly loving as the number of his colony dwindled and so we didn't have to "spread the love around" as much. I do think I got cocky with this group - - - we've socialized SOOOO many and had basically zero "failures" - - but Aspen's defintitely his own dog! :flail:We've been keeping him in longer and longer when he does come in to eat (he really disappeared after losing the rest of his "crew" - altho two are inside 24/7 now). We laugh bc he was totally silent (typical feral) for 13 years - - - then when his uncle died (Crosby) it's like Crosby's voice (which was like a cross between a very vocal Siamese and a fog horn) entered Aspen! We've gotten him to stay in more and more - -so even after all this time, and at his age, we feel we're closer to getting him to stay in permanently. .But as I think I mentioned - - he's definitely our "wild child." But we're not giving up! We just feel we have to have at least one option besides inside or the heated garage shelter. Hopefully he'll take to the new shelter (it's in our living room right now as we're training him to go in with chicken and Churus) - altho right now it's his aunt Flick (the one who's been inside for 12 years now) who's decided it's the best thing since sliced bread. Of course the one who doesn't need to use it is the one who loves it. Go figure!
😂😂
 
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